VIP guests look on during an assumption of command ceremony for the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood on Friday at the main entrance of the hospital. Col. Patricia Darnauer assumed command from Col. Roger Gallup, who has been the interim CRDAMC commander since Col. Patrick Sargent relinquished command in April of this year.

Col. Patricia Darnauer, incoming commander of the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, visits with Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, Jr., commander of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) during an assumption of command ceremony on Friday at the main entrance of the hospital. Col. Darnauer assumes command from Col. Roger Gallup, who has been the interim CRDAMC commander since Col. Patrick Sargent relinquished command in April of this year.

From left, Col. Roger Gallup, interim commander of the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Maj. Gen. Jimmie O. Keenan, commander of Southern Regional Medical Command, and Col. Patricia Darnauer, incoming commander of CRDAMC, salute during an Assumption of Command ceremony on Friday at the main entrance of the hospital.

Fort Hood medical center gets new leader

VIP guests look on during an assumption of command ceremony for the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood on Friday at the main entrance of the hospital. Col. Patricia Darnauer assumed command from Col. Roger Gallup, who has been the interim CRDAMC commander since Col. Patrick Sargent relinquished command in April of this year.

Col. Patricia Darnauer, incoming commander of the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, visits with Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, Jr., commander of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) during an assumption of command ceremony on Friday at the main entrance of the hospital. Col. Darnauer assumes command from Col. Roger Gallup, who has been the interim CRDAMC commander since Col. Patrick Sargent relinquished command in April of this year.

From left, Col. Roger Gallup, interim commander of the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Maj. Gen. Jimmie O. Keenan, commander of Southern Regional Medical Command, and Col. Patricia Darnauer, incoming commander of CRDAMC, salute during an Assumption of Command ceremony on Friday at the main entrance of the hospital.

FORT HOOD — In taking the colors of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Col. Patricia Darnauer took command of an organization preparing for some drastic changes.

Darnauer accepted the role of commander of the Fort Hood medical center Friday morning in front of the main hospital entrance. Under her two years of leadership, the hospital will begin the early stages of moving into a new $500 million facility currently under construction.

“My goal is to refine and hard-wire the processes you have already established so that in 2015 as we transition to that new state-of-the-art hospital rising across the parking lot, we will continue to provide great care to our warriors, veterans and family members,” she said.

Starting next month, Darnauer will lead Darnall, which averages 5,180 patients a day and operates more than 70 facilities, through a civilian employee furlough.

“I commit to keeping you informed and to mitigate any fiscal, sequestration and administrative challenges that serve as distractors to performing our primary mission,” she said.

The last time Darnauer was stationed at Darnall, the medical center was simply a community hospital.

“Two weeks ago I returned ... and witnessed this organization’s terrific performance as the Joint Commission again fully accredited our health system,” Darnauer said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better welcome than to observe as the (Darnall) team excelled under the pressures of this external review.”

Leading the hospital through the inspection was interim commander, Col. Roger Gallup, deputy commander of clinical services, who stepped up in April after Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent moved on.

“It’s really a reflection of the hard work and continual preparedness (of the staff),” Gallup said of the accreditation. “Civilians play a big part of that as well.”

Darnauer thanked Gallup for his work and said she looks forward to working with him.

“Your professionalism and calm demeanor created the environment that contributes significantly to (Darnall’s) recent successes,” she said.

Contact Rose L. Thayer at rthayer@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7463. Follow her on Twitter at KDHmilitary.

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.

The Central Texas College Department of Nursing and Allied Health recently announced it will host a site review for continuing accreditation of its Associate Degree in Nursing Program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

W.S. Young Drive, from U.S. Highway 190/Interstate 14 to Bacon Ranch Road, and Lowes Boulevard at W.S. Young Drive, are experiencing intermittent lane closures for paving and pavement marking activities, according to a Killeen news release.